What better way to beat the summer heat than to get an ice cream treat.
These days, there’s much more than plain old vanilla. Now local, gourmet ice cream shops are whipping up flavors you never dreamed would taste good. Consider: Salted caramel, chunky cheesecake, pomegranate curry sorbet, balsamic strawberry.
These homegrown businesses use local berries, organic products, even locally roasted coffee brews to mix up butterfat-fueled goodness.
Gone too are the days of a 50-cent cone. Expect to shell out about $4 for a single (big) scoop in a homemade waffle cone.
Some local batches can be purchased at grocery stores, but why not make an evening of it?
In my experience, you can expect to wait in line, as whiffs of waffle irons and hoards of happy faces pass, at some of these popular spots.
I once stood in line for 45 minutes. Was it worth it? Mmmm, yeah!
Leave the calorie counter at home, pack up the family and dish out some of the region’s best desserts.
Here are a few local ice cream favorites:
Snoqualmie Gourmet
21106 86th Ave. SE, Maltby, 360-668-8535
Long a favorite in the frozen aisle, the company recently opened a cafe in south Snohomish County. It can be rented out for a special occasions or stop by to sample their expertly made ice cream, gelato or frozen custard. You know it’s going to be good when they use gourmet Callebaut chocolate as the backbone of their various chocolate varieties.
Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream
917 E. Pine St. on Seattle’s Capitol Hill, 206-708-7947
Famous for exotic flavors and long lines. Favorites here are honey lavender and birthday cake, a sweet blend with chunks of cake in the ice cream. They also are known to cook up the strangest concoctions. I go for the balsamic strawberry. Others choose the salted black licorice. Everyone goes away happy. Even if there’s a long line behind you, don’t be shy about asking for tastes! (Why do you think the line is so long?)
Old School Frozen Custard
1316 E. Pike St. on Seattle’s Capitol Hill, 206-324-2586
People line up here for the smooth, soft, silky blend of egg yolks and less(!) butterfat that define frozen custard. Think of this stuff as really fancy soft-serve. Chocolate and vanilla are always served up with a special flavor changing daily: Key lime, bubble gum, spicy apple and mountain blackberry. Special sundaes feature all kinds of toppings.
Whidbey Island Ice Cream
Available at several retail outlets in Stanwood and on Whidbey and Camano islands. Also look for their bars at farmers markets in Snohomish, Lake Stevens and Ballard.
Check out flavors including Mukilteo Mocha Mousse and Porter, made from Flyers Brewery in Oak Harbor.
Have a favorite?
Do you know of a good local ice cream maker? Send us the information and we’ll include it in future lists. E-mail to features@heraldnet.com.
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